List of Australian flags

This is a list of flags used in Australia:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Australia.

National flags

Main article: Flag of Australia
Flag Date Use Description
1908–present National flag, naval jack and state ensign A Blue Ensign defaced with the seven-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half.
1903-1908 Historic national flag as approved by King Edward VII A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points).
1901-1903 Historic flag, original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, and 6).
1971-present Aboriginal Flag A black and red flag with a yellow circle in the middle.
Link to file 1992-present Torres Strait Islander Flag A five-pointed star and traditional headdress in white, on a blue, green and black background.
Link to file 1994-present Australian South Sea Islanders flag [1]

Personal flags

Queen

Flag Date Use Description
1962-present Personal Australian Flag of Queen Elizabeth II

Governor-General

Flag Date Use Description
1936-present Flag of the Governor-General of Australia A crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field.

State Governors

Flag Date Use Description
1981-present Flag of the Governor of New South Wales The State Flag with a crowned badge.
1901-present[lower-alpha 1] Flag of the Governor of Queensland The Union Flag defaced with the state badge.
1975-present Flag of the Governor of South Australia The State Flag with a crowned badge.
1977-present Flag of the Governor of Tasmania The State Flag with a crowned badge.
1984-present Flag of the Governor of Victoria The State Flag with a yellow field and crowned southern cross.
1988-present Flag of the Governor of Western Australia The State Flag with a crowned badge.

Prime Minister

Flag Date Use Description
1950s–1966 Car Flag of the Prime Minister of Australia The Australian national flag defaced with the coat of arms of Australia placed between the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross. Used by Robert Menzies in the 1950s and 1960s.[2][3][4]

States and territories

Flag Date Use Description
1993-present Flag of the Australian Capital Territory One third blue with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are yellow with the Coat of Arms of Canberra.
1876-present Flag of New South Wales A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1978-present Flag of the Northern Territory One third black with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are brown with Sturt's Desert Rose, the floral emblem of the Territory.
1876-present[lower-alpha 1] Flag of Queensland A light blue Maltese cross with a crown on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1904-present Flag of South Australia A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1875-present Flag of Tasmania A red lion on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1877-present[lower-alpha 1] Flag of Victoria The Southern Cross surmounted by a crown in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1953-present Flag of Western Australia A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign.

External territories

Flag Date Use Description
2002-present Flag of Christmas Island The blue and green diagonal panels represent the sea and the island's vegetation, a small map of the island is included in the centre. The main emblem is a golden bosun bird. The flag was selected from a competition held in 1986 and was approved in 2002.
2004-present Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands The flag is green, with a palm tree on a gold disc in the canton, a gold crescent for the Cocos Malay people in the centre of the flag and a gold southern cross in the fly. The flag was designed in 2003 becoming official in 2004.
1980-present Flag of Norfolk Island A green field with a white square containing a green Norfolk Island Pine.

Civil ensigns

Flag Date Use Description
1909–present Australian Red Ensign A British Red Ensign with the Commonwealth Star at the hoist, and the Southern Cross in the other half.
1903–1909 Red Ensign as approved by King Edward VII A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points).
1901–1903 Red version of the 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner A British Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, and 6).
1948–present Australian Civil Air Ensign Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in white.
1935–1948 Australian Civil Air Ensign Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in yellow.

Australian Defence Force

Flag Date Use Description
Link to file 2000-present Australian Defence Force Ensign A tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the Triservice badge.

Royal Australian Navy

Flag Date Use Description
1967–present Australian White Ensign Based on the British White Ensign, a version of the national flag with a white field and the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross in blue.
1911–1967 Royal Australian Navy Ensign St George's Ensign or White Ensign: white field defaced with a thin Cross of Saint George, Union Flag in the first quarter. It was replaced by the Australian White Ensign.
1920-present Flag of the Chief of Navy A fouled anchor on a red-blue background.
Link to file 2001–present Australian Navy Cadets Ensign A blue ensign with the Australian White Ensign in canton and the badge of the Australian Navy Cadets in the fly.
1972–2001 Naval Reserve Cadets Ensign A blue ensign with the Australian White Ensign in canton and the badge of the Naval Reserve Cadets in the fly. Replaced by the Australian Navy Cadets Ensign.
1956–1972 Sea Cadet Corps A blue ensign with the badge of the Sea Cadet Corps in the fly. Replaced by the Naval Reserve Cadets Ensign.

Royal Australian Air Force

Flag Date Use Description
1982–present Royal Australian Air Force Ensign The national flag with a light blue field, the Southern Cross tilted and the RAAF roundel (Kangaroo) placed in the lower fly.
1948–1982 Royal Australian Air Force Ensign The national flag with a light blue field, the Southern Cross tilted and the RAAF roundel placed in the lower fly.
1921–1948 Royal Australian Air Force Ensign The British Royal Air Force Ensign.

Australian Border Force

The department names of Australia's border protection service have slightly changed over time, they are as follows;

Flag Date Use Description
2015–present Australian Border Force Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "BORDER FORCE"
1988–2015 Australian Customs Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "CUSTOMS"
1909–1988 Australian Customs Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "HMC"
1904–1909 Australian Customs Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "HMC"
1903–1904 Australian Customs Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "HMC AUSTRALIA"
1901–1903 Australian Customs Flag The Australian national flag defaced with "HMC AUSTRALIA"

Federal and state police

Flag Date Use Description
Link to file 1982–present Flag of the Australian Federal Police A black-white-black vertical tricolor, with the badge of the Australian Federal Police in the centre of the white stripe. A black-and-white checkerboard borders the flag.
Link to file 1981–present Flag of the New South Wales Police Force An azure-and-white horizontal bicolor with the badge of the New South Wales Police Force in the centre of the flag.
Link to file 2006–present Flag of the Northern Territory Police A variant of the Northern Territory flag with the Northern Territory Police badge replacing the flower in the fly.
Link to file 2006–present Flag of the Queensland Police Service A light blue-and-dark blue horizontal bicolor with the badge of the Queensland Police Service in the centre of the flag.
Link to file 1993–present Flag of the South Australia Police A British Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the South Australia Police within a white disk.
Link to file ??–present Flag of the Tasmania Police An azure flag with the badge of the Tasmania Police in the centre of the flag.
Link to file ??–present Flag of the Victoria Police A British Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Victoria Police.
Link to file 2005–present Flag of the Western Australia Police A white flag with a stylised depiction of a swan and checkerboard in blue, with the Western Australia Police emblem added.

Cities and areas

Flag Date Use Description
1982–present Armorial Flag of the City of Adelaide Blue background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined in gold overlain with the Arms of the City of Adelaide. Flag bordered on three sides by diagonal blue and gold stripes.[5]
1947–present[6] Flag of the City of Brisbane Blue background (representing the Brisbane River) bordered by a golden checker pattern (representing the Sun and Brisbane's warm climate) with the flag divided into six quarters. The upper hoist quarter contains a golden caducei superimposed on wavy white lines, representing the Brisbane River and its ties to the city's commerce. The lower hoist quarter contains two Stafford knots and a white star arranged vertically (all represent the achievements in astronomy of Sir Thomas Brisbane, for whom the city is named). The remaining segments alternate between these two designs. The flag design is based on the shield on the coat of arms of Brisbane.[7][8]
Flag of the City of Darwin
Flag of the City of Hobart
Flag of the City of Launceston The Launceston flag design is based on the city's Coat of Arms granted by the College of Arms, London on 11 June 1957.[9] The Brisbane Street Mall, the War memorial at Royal Park, atop the Council Chambers and on top of the Albert Hall are places in the city where the flag is regularly flown. The three intersecting lines in the flag represent the city's three rivers (North Esk, South Esk and Tamar) and the two rectangles in the lines represent tin ingots. The strip across the top with the jagged edge is green to represent the city's parks, gardens and surrounding countryside. Waratah flowers at the top symbolise all flowers and similar beauties of nature. The ingots are included because Launceston used to be a large tin smelting centre. The little circle at the river junction is Launceston.
?? Flag of the City of Melbourne White background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined by a concise and overlain with St Edward's Crown. Quadrant features represent the main activities of the economy of the City of Melbourne in the mid 19th century and are, in a clockwise direction from top left, a fleece hanging from a red ring (wool), a black bull standing on a hillock (cattle), a three-mast ship in full sail (shipping), and a spouting whale in the sea (whaling). The flag design is identical to the shield on the coat of arms of Melbourne.[10]
1949–present Flag of the City of Perth Saint George's Cross overlaid with the City of Perth Coat of Arms in the centre.[11]
1908–present Flag of the City of Sydney The flag is a horizontal triband of three colours – white, gold and blue. The top third features three designs. In the top left the arms belong to Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, after whom the city was named. The English Naval Flag in the centre acknowledges the role Arthur Philip played in Sydney's foundation. The red cross is overlaid with a globe and two stars – the principal features of James Cook's Arms, which were granted as a posthumous honour for his service in mapping Australia. The arms in the top right belong to the first Lord Mayor of Sydney, Thomas Hughes. It was during his term of office that the title of Mayor became Lord Mayor, and the official coat of arms for the city was granted. The remaining field of the flag features a ship under full sail, an allusion to the prominence of Sydney as a maritime port.[12]
1850–present Upper Murray River Flag Flown by vessels on the upper reaches of the Murray River, predominantly in Victoria. The blue bars are said to represent the four major rivers that form the Murray-Darling River system and their dark hue represents the darker colour of the Murray River's darker waters in Victoria and NSW.
1850–present Lower Murray River Flag Flown by vessels on the lower reaches of the Murray River, predominantly in South Australia. The blue bars are said to represent the four major rivers that form the Murray-Darling River system and their light hue represents the lighter colour of the Murray River's lighter waters in South Australia.
1998–present Flag of Lord Howe Island, New South Wales Despite being an unofficial flag of a state-integrated island, it is used to represent the island.

Historical flags

Flag Date Use Description
1788–1801 Union Flag The Union Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Raised by Captain Arthur Phillip RN on 26 January 1788 at Sydney Cove upon the landing of the First Fleet.
1806 Bowman Flag A white swallow-tail fly, with a crest featuring the Rose of England, the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Ireland supported by an emu and kangaroo. The design was an inspiration for Australia’s National Coat of Arms.
1823/24–1831 National Colonial Flag for Australia A British White Ensign, featuring four white stars on the red cross
1830s–1920s Australian Federation Flag A British White Ensign, featuring the cross in blue with five white stars
1849–1853 Australasian Anti-Transportation League Flag British Blue Ensign, with yellow Southern Cross and white border, to which branch names were added
1850s–1875 Van Diemen's Land Ensign A British White Ensign, featuring six blue bars
1854 Eureka Flag The battle flag of the Eureka Stockade featured the five stars of the constellation Crux Australis in white on a white cross and blue field
1918 Australian Honour Flag
1972 Australian Moon Flag The Australian flag flown on the final mission of the Apollo program, which took place from 6 - 19 December 1972.
1988 Bicentennial Flag The 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia[13]
2001 Centenary of Federation Flag The 100th anniversary of Federation - the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia[14]

Sporting flags

Flag Date Use Description
1908–1912 Flag of the Australasian Olympic Team A Blue Ensign defaced by a white circle containing the British Crown plus a shield containing the Southern Cross.
Link to file 1983–present Boxing Kangaroo sporting flag A golden kangaroo wearing red boxing gloves on a green field.
2000 Sydney Olympics sporting flag [15]
2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games sporting flag [16]

Proposed alternative flags

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The rendition of the crown has changed according to the monarchs' wishes. In c. 1901 it was changed to the Tudor Crown, and in 1953 to the St Edward's Crown.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/ASSI.html
  2. ↑ ABC Television show "Auction Room", 11 November 2012
  3. ↑ Pg 207. Flags of the World, Barraclough, E.M.C., ISBN 978-0-72-322797-7
  4. ↑ Jonathon Dixon, Ian MacDonald. "Prime Minister - Australia". Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "History of Council". Adelaide City Council. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "The city standard, but do you recognise it?". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Symbols used by Council". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Jonathon Dixon, Ian MacDonald. "City of Brisbane (Queensland, Australia)". Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Coat of Arms". Launceston City Council. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
  10. ↑ http://www.melbourneday.com.au/melbourneday.html
  11. ↑ "History of the Council". City of Perth. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "Sydney's flag and flower". City of Sydney. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  13. ↑ http://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/HistoricalFlags.html
  14. ↑ http://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/HistoricalFlags.html
  15. ↑ http://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/HistoricalFlags.html
  16. ↑ http://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/HistoricalFlags.html


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